Care leavers

At Keele, we recognise that students who have experience of care may face additional challenges before, during and after university. We are committed to helping you succeed academically, personally and professionally by providing support tailored to your individual circumstances.

As a signatory of the Care Leaver Covenant, we are proud to be part of a national commitment to improving opportunities and outcomes for care experienced young people.

Our support begins before you arrive at Keele and continues throughout your studies and beyond graduation. Whether you need advice about accommodation, finances, wellbeing, academic concerns or planning for the future, there will always be someone here to help.

Most importantly, we want you to feel that you belong at Keele. We value the experiences, strengths and perspectives that care experienced students bring to our community and are committed to ensuring you feel welcomed, supported and empowered to achieve your goals.

You may be eligible for our care leaver support package if you are under 25 when you start your course, have spent at least 13 weeks in care (such as foster care or a children's home) and your time in care ended after your 16th birthday.

You may also be eligible if you were privately fostered until the age of 16 or were previously looked after until becoming subject to a Special Guardianship Order.

Not sure whether this applies to you? Please get in touch with us. We understand that every student's circumstances are different and we are happy to have a confidential conversation about the support available to you.

Even if you do not meet the formal definition of a care leaver, you may still be eligible for support if you are estranged from your family.

The most important thing is that you contact us. We can help you explore the options available.

When you join Keele, you will have access to a dedicated Student Experience and Support Officer who understands the experiences and challenges that care experienced students can face. 

Your Student Experience and Support Officer can:

• Be a consistent point of contact throughout your studies
• Check in with you at key points across the year
• Help you access support and services across the University
• Answer questions or concerns as they arise
• Support you during significant transitions and challenges
• Guide you through any challenges affecting your studies
• Liaise with your Local Authority or support workers (with your permission)

You don't need to wait until something goes wrong to contact your Student Experience and Support Officer. Whether you need practical advice, reassurance, guidance or simply someone to talk things through with, they are here to support you.

Any conversations you have will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality, and your choices will always be respected.

We want to help you feel supported, confident and able to make the most of your time at Keele.

Starting university is a big step, and we are here to help make that transition as smooth as possible.

Getting to know Keele:

Our Student Recruitment and Access team offers advice and guidance to prospective care experienced students and can help answer questions about university life, courses and support available at Keele.

You can:

• Attend Open Days and Applicant Visit Days
• Request additional support during your visit
• Arrange individual and bespoke visits where appropriate
• Speak to staff about your circumstances before applying

The Student Recruitment and Access team can be contacted at: outreach@keele.ac.uk

Additional consideration during admissions:

We recognise that educational opportunities and experiences are not the same for everyone.

If you disclose your care experience through UCAS, we may consider this information as part of our contextual admissions process, helping us understand your achievements in the context of your individual circumstances. For more information please see our Admissions FAQs. 

Building connections:

Before and during your first weeks at Keele, you'll have opportunities to:

• Meet other students
• Access peer support opportunities
• Attend welcome and induction activities
• Learn about services and support available across the University

We want you to arrive feeling informed, confident and connected.

There is lots of support that you can access prior to starting your course at Keele and throughout the induction period to help you to make the right decisions and support your transition to Higher Education.

We understand that accommodation can be one of the biggest concerns for care experienced students.

To help provide stability and peace of mind, care leavers and estranged students are prioritised for on-campus accommodation when applications are submitted by the published deadlines.

Depending on your course and circumstances, you may be able to access:

• 51-week campus accommodation contracts
• Campus accommodation during summer vacation 
• Advice about accommodation options
• Guidance on moving between accommodation
• Help finding suitable off-campus housing
• Support with finding a rent guarantor scheme (not needed for campus accommodation)

Whether you choose to live on or off campus, support is available to help you find accommodation that is right for you.

If you are worried about where you will stay during university holidays or throughout your studies, please contact us and we will discuss the options available.

We know that financial concerns can be a significant source of stress. Our aim is to help ensure that money worries don't prevent you from making the most of your university experience.

Bursaries and financial support:

Eligible students can receive the Care Leaver and Estranged Student Bursary from Keele University, which includes an annual bursary (pro-rata for part-time students) and a graduation bonus.

Our specialist Financial Support Team can advise you on:

• Applications for funding, such as Student Finance
• Bursaries, scholarships and support funds
• Budgeting and money management
• Financial support if you're facing unexpected financial difficulties

Find out more about financial support at Keele.

Financial support from your Local Authority:

Many care leavers are entitled to a £2,000 Higher Education Bursary through their Local Authority. Your Personal Adviser or Leaving Care Team can help you access this funding through your Pathway Plan.